Topic 1 Flashcards
what does the US constitution do
> sets out the structure of the government including roles of diff branches
sets out the role of state govs.
sets out the rights of individuals
what is the US constitution
> sovereign document
written in 1787
creates federal system of government and the separation of powers
What is federalism
> federal system of government
power divided between central gov. and state gov.
state gov. can make its own laws and rights but as to give up some of their powers to central gov.
how many states were there in 1890
44
what are the three different branches of the federal government
Executive- policy making and president
Legislature- framing and passing laws- congress
Judiciary- courts and judges and Supreme court
outline the Executive
> veto laws passed by congress
make federal appointments e.g. Secretary of State
Commander in Chief of Army
takes key foreign policy decisions, e.g. treaties, with backing of senate
initiate legislative programmes aimed at domestic affairs
Presidents 1890-1945
> chosen every 4 years
by electoral college at fixed term elections
no constitutional limit
3 died-> replaced by v-ps
wars, economic problems, social division and inequality
Outline the Legislature
> congress is bicameral legislature of USA -> Senate and House of Reps.
Senate- 100 members elected every 6 yrs
HofR -> 435 members elected every 2 years
override president with 2/3 majority
impeach president if needed
Outline the Judiciary
> Supreme Court
Senior Judges (9) elected by president
strike laws if they feel they go against constitution.
Outline the two political parties in USA
Republicans
> Big Business
> Laissez-faire
> North support
Democrats
> Gov. intervention for less well off
> less urbanized south
Outline the parties economic policies
Republicans
>Gold Standard -> BB, rich farmers and urban workers liked
> Laissez- faire (e.g. tax) and high tarriffs
> BB gave $3.5 mill to Mckinley
Democrats
> free coinage of silver -> poor farmers and rural areas
> lower tarriffs = cheaper goods
Outline the parties foreign policies
Republicans
> expansionist as believed it would bring economic benefits
Democrats
> anti-imperialist policy (won in 1916 as anti-war stance)
outline electioneering
> campaigne and fundraising during election
Mark Hanna- focused on marginal districts (sent 1500 speakers), spent $10,000 ow money on Mck. sent letters (250m. pieces of literature), raised $16m. attacked byran ‘front porch’ campaigne.
Outline candidate profiles and the electoral college
> Mck. and Roosevelt war heros
> backing from North meant more votes for Rep.
Mck. NY highest electoral college vote (36) and Pennsylvania (32)
outline Byrans tactics in 1896 election
> travelled 28,000km giving 600 speeches
why was the 1896 seen as the 1st election
> started ear of Rep. dominance
caused divide in democrat party
end of 3rd party movement (populist)
start of modern campaigning techniques
outline the mood and circumstances (pres. elections)
> big impact on election
Mck. for Cubans due to Spanish involvment
Wilsons idealism and anti-war
Hardings Normalcy
Before the civil war (1861-65) where did most immagrants come from
> GB, Ir, G+ Scandinavia
from 1880 where did most immigrants come from
> A-H, It + R
> 1890’s around 4m.
what was the economic impact of immigration
> provided entrepreneurs e.g Carnegie (Scotland) and J. Pulitzer (Hungary)
cheap labour
poor education and little money = exploited, low wages and poor condition + boss and padrone systems
broke strikes e.g. Pennsylvania- Slavic miners brought in
accused of taking jobs - C-It employed in subway systems
what was the political impact of immigration
> APA, KKK, Immagration Restriction League
Tammany Hall- political org. help seek accomadation and work in return for Democrat vote. Richard Croker boss - secured Robert Van Dyke as mayor of NY.
accused of having extremist views- Emma Goldberg seen as anarchist
What was the social impact of immigration
> overcrowded slums
Temperance movments blamed them for alcohol
high crime
Gangs
1891 Immigration Act tried to prevent diease but TB and Cholera outbreaks were frequent.
brought diversity of culture and religion
how many people moved to Am. 1866-1915
25m.
how many imm. in 1882
789,000
> 50+% GB and G
> 32,000 It
> 17,000 R
how many imm. in 1907
Peak year
1.7m.
> 11x more It + R
> less 1/2 GB and F
by how much did NY pop. increase
1860- 806,000
1900- 3.5m.
how many Jews were there in NY
> 1870- 80,000
> 1915- 1.5m
what were the push factors for immigration
> persecution
lack of opp. @ home -> fruit market in It collapse and currant market in Greece
disease
military service
pull factors for immigration
> economic opp. -> gold rush, land
jobs
American dream
pre-paid passage -> 1901 40-60% travell paid by employers
Why was the rise of BB and its impact on the economy aided by raw materials and infrastructure
> abundance of raw materials
agricultural land provided food needed to sustain pop. and sell overseas
discovery of oilfields e.g. Spindletop in Texas 1901 and anthracite coalfields in Pennsylvania crucial to expansion and mass production of steel
increase of railroads under Vanderbilt created transport and new markets
how did the production of coal and iron ore increase
1890- 1913
> coal increased by 375m.t
>Iron ore - 22m.t
Why was the rise of BB and its impact on the economy aided by innovations
> Bessemer process (Carnagie) alowed for production of cheaper steel
electricity allowed Edison and Telsa to invent
Mass production - H.Ford 1895 4 cars/ 1917 5m.
who were the leading industrialists in Am.
> Ford- cars
carnegie- steel
Rockerfella- oil
J.P. Morgan- banking
Why was the rise of BB and its impact on the economy aided by attitudes of the federal government
> laissez faire economics
stopped unfair monopolies
unions struggled to grow
high tarriffs - stopped foreign competition e.g. Dingley Tarriffs 1897 highest ever.
Why was the rise of BB and its impact on the economy aided by mass immigration and the weakness of unions
> cheap workforce
John Mitchells United Min Workers- some success but events such as Triangle Shirtwaist Fire 1911 higlighted conditions more
Homesteadsteel 1892 strike and Pullman Strike 1894 faced with state sactioned violence so union struggled
Why did BB rise
> raw materials and infrastructure > innovations > entreprenuers > attitude of Gov. > Immagration and unions
what was the BB growths impact on society
> anti-trust movments
economic boom
more jobs
Labour Unions e.g Knights of Labour (anti-capitalist) bacame part of American Federation of Labour who organised strikes, insisted on shared wealth and irritated employers
What is Progressivism
> broad diverse movment > emerged 1880-1890's > response to rapid change and inequalities > aimed at ordinary people > used muckraking
What did progressivism aim to do
> ban alcohol > reduce power of BB > improve public health and food standards > reduce crime > enfranchise women > improved working + living conditions > protect environment
which 3 presidents were progressive
roosevelt, taft and wilson
Roosevelts progressive acts
1901- used 1891 Forest Reserve Act to protect 150 million acres
1902- increase 10% pay and 9 hour day
1902- used sherman act to dissolve Morgans railroad company Northern Securities
1903- est. Pelican Island as 1st national wildlife reserve
1906- pure food and drugs act
1906- meat inspection act
Tafts progressive acts
1909-13 90 anti-trust suits brought under Taft inc. US Steel
1910- El Dorado National Forest California
1910- General Withdrawal Act 8.5 million acres in Alaska taken to prevent companies buying it
1912- federal Childrens Bureau clamp child abuse
Wilsons progressive acts
1914- Clayton Ant-Trust Act passed to combat monopolies
1916- Federal Farm Loan Act- cheaper mortgages to famers
1916- Adamson Act - 8 hour day at same pay for railroad workers
1919- 19th ammendment- womens vote
When was the Spanish American war
1898-1902
why did Am go to War with Spain
> yellow press > public opinion > war hawks > USS Maine > De Lome letter
Yellow Press
> W.Hearst and Pulitzer
sensationalised spanish atrocities e.g. Butcher Weyler, USS maine and De Lome letter
Cubans attacking plantations 1895
changed Public opinion
Public opinion SpAm
> Butcher Weyler- against human rights, made spanish ‘evil’ and cruel
influenced by Yellow Press
conc. camps in cuba
War Hawks SpAm
. investments in Sugar and Tabacco
> favoured war on the grounds that it would better the economy
USS Maine
> Feb 1898
260 died
Havanna
physical act against America
De Lome letter
leaked letter from Spanish Ambassador De Lome calling Mck. ‘weak’
> covered in New York Journal
when do America declare war on spain
25th April 1898
> after sending message on 21st telling Spain they had 3 days to leave
consequences of SpAm
> Treaty of Paris- 1901- Am gained Guam, Puerto Rico, Guantanamo Bay, Phillipines and Hawaii
360 died in battle, 5000 to disease
cost $5bn.
Foothold in China
expansionism
Platt Amendment - US had a degree of power in Cuba, could keep soldiers there for 4 years
75% cuban imports american and 80% cuban exports american
Platt Amendment
1901
> Am. had degree of control in Cuba
> Am. could keep soldiers in Cuba for 4 years
> Cuba couldnt sign treaty without Am. consult
>Guantanamo Bay -> Am.
Open Door Policy
1899-1900
> John Hay
> Aimed to keep China free of colonial control and preserve FT.
> Am. doesnt want to be frozen out
> collection of notes no country opposed
> offical policy to East
Boxer Rebellion
1900
> Nationalist tried to drive foreign devils out China
> seiged embassys in Bejing
> US involved, put down reballion and gain foothold in China
What were the economic influences on US foreign policy 1890-1920
> Mahan 1890 said naval expansion needed to go alongside economic. -> pacific policy
cuban imports and exports
monroe doctrine 1823 -> Am. can act within Americas Sphere of influence
What were the presidential influences on US foreign policy 1890-1920
> Mck. active fp. -> Cuba and Boxer Rebellion
TR- prestige and security -> Panama Canal, Platt Amendment and Roosevelt Corollary to the MD.
Taft- dollar diplomacy (dollars instead of troops), negotiated with Japan recognising its primacy in Manchuria and it left Phillipines. sent troops to Nicaragua
What were the imperialistic and anti-imerialistic influences on US foreign policy 1890-1920
> 1898- Puerto Rico, Guam , Phillipines and Hawaii
Platt amendment
SpAm
Anti- Imperialist League (Carnegie) put pressure on Gov. to avoid hostilities abroad
Hay- Pauncefort Agreement
1901
> GB gave up treaty rights to joint participation in any cenrtal Am. canal projects.
> GB/Am. relationship start
what did TR mean by big stick politics
that Am. would speak softly and carry a big stick
The Panama Canal
TR
> bought New Panama Canal Company for $40m.
> TR ushered uprising in Panama so Am could intervene.
> paid columbia $25m in 1922 cleared swamps of malaria and yellow fever,
>cleaned 240 cubic yards of earth
> opened 1914
Roosevelt Corollary
to the MD that implied Am. could interfere in the Americas where it felt its own interests were at stake -> unrestricted right to regulate Carribean affairs
Tafts Dollar Diplomacy results
> United Fruits comapny owned 16,000 acres in CA
> investments in sugar plantations increased by x4
TR as a negotiator
> OD policy
> Hay Pauncefort agreement
TR as agressor
> SpAm - rough rider, kettle hill
Platt Ammendment
Panama Canal
Roosevelt Corollary
What 3 areas can Wilsons fp be split into
Europe
Americas and Caribbean
Wilsons Fp; Americas and Caribbean
> Mexico
Madero -> Diaz -> Huerta -> Carranza
Wilson supports Carranza as he calls Huerta murderer.
Carranza Constitutional Movement -> dont want Am. intervention -> said they would use force against Am. but buys arms from Am.
USA isolate Huerta diplomatically -> GB support Huerta -> USA persude GB not to
Am. deploy troops in VeraCruz 19 Ams die.
Huerta regime collapses
Pancho Villa wanted to overthrow Heurto, series of raids -> 30 Am. killed. 1916- General Pershing took 6,000 Am. to kill Villa
Carranza create anti-American feel
Why did Am. intervene in Mexico
> wilsons fp
Am. policies
trade
wilsons fp; South East Asia and the Pacific
> Jones Act 1916- gave filipinos more autonomy
OD policy
Lansing-Ishii agreement 1917- US understanding with japans interest in manchuria, mongolia and shandong
Why didnt Am join the war in 1914
>Isolationism >boom from double trading >not prepared > anti war feeling > no actions against Am.
Why did Am. join the war in 1917
> Unrestricted submarine warfare > Lusitania > loans > Wilsons ideals post war > Zimmerman Telegram
Am. contribution to WW1
3.5m. drafted 1.5 volunteered
> Sep. 1917 Meuse- Argonne, US offensive put generaled allies offensive lasted 47 days
109,00 died
Why did Am. not join LofN or sign TofV
1 wilson was stubborn-> no rep. to Paris, wont listen
2 influential opposition to wilson -> rep. + irreconcilibles
3 support of people -> red scare, women liberated, prohibition
4 WW1 -> people didnt care, 109,000 died
TofV
- france cripple Germany
- GB public squeeze until pip comes out, government want moderate peace
- wilson doesnt bring republicans
- signed 28th june 191, hall of mirrors not accepted by congress
what were the political opposition to the TofV
> republicans
> Irreconcilibles
outline the republicans as an opposition to the TofV
Senator Henry Cabbot Lodge
> against collective security as congress would not be needed to declare war
outline the irreconcilibles as an opposition to the TofV
Robert La Follette
isolationist, against Am. participation in european affairs
what was prohibition
banning of production, exportion, importion, transportation and sale of alcohol
> 18th ammendment
> volstead Act
Why was prohibition passed
> campaigne groups -> WUCT AntiSaloon League
Industrialists -> Rockerfella and Ford
anti-immagrant feeling -> drinking culture
individual states banned alcohol -> 1912-50%
WW1-> waist of grain, anti-german as brewers tended to be german -> adolphus Busch and ‘kaiser brew’ . unpatriotic
how was prohibition ran
Krammer was 1st prohibition commisioner
15,000 prohibition agents (3000 @ end)
what was the effect of prohibition
> corruption from agents
coca-cola outut increased -> 1890-17.4m. 1933- 182m.
illegal alcohol production -moonshine and speakeasys
arrest for drunkeness x3
death from alcohol increased 600%
gangs
